AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission today approved the transfer of 91.3 acres of Abilene State Park property to the Boy Scouts of America, which officially has been leasing the land from the state for 60 years.

The Texas Trails Council of the Boy Scouts of America requested the transfer of the land that has been leased to the Boy Scouts as part of Camp Tonkawa since 1949. The transfer provides opportunities for the Scouts to build new facilities and/or renovate existing ones.

The leased property being transferred is part of Camp Tonkawa’s total of 191.3 acres bordering the eastern boundary of the 529-acre state park. The lease originated on June 7, 1949 for a term of 19 years, and was renewed for 50 years and due to expire in 2018.

As part of the transfer agreement, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department would retain a conservation easement on the land that assures good conservation and land management practices, and protects the property’s natural and cultural resources, according to TPWD senior project manager Corky Kuhlmann.

Kuhlmann said the transfer agreement will further stipulate that if the property were ever used for anything other than a Boy Scout camp, it would revert to TPWD ownership.